I have the fortunate problem of having too much to be grateful for today.

Nah. NEVER too much gratitude to be had.

It was a truly blissful and relaxing day. It really did feel like we were on holiday. Aside from the quiet reading I did at the park while Hubbie played some b-ball

And the great time we had at my Uncle and Aunty’s place taking in mother nature, her finest and most organic produce, and the surrounds of heavenly greenery

(My Uncle’s bees drinking water around the large bowl)

It was what we did at 10:30am that had us in absolute awe.

We started off once again with no real plans after the kinder drop off was done… Hubbie mentioned coffee, it was to be guaranteed to follow on Main street, and when we appeared to be reading each other’s minds with the same café – Store Fifteen – I had to add, due to proximity’s sake –

“Why don’t we walk down to the pier?”

This man of mine loves sitting down to drink his coffee – not many takeaway cups there. But, the water called.

“Sure.”

We took our large latte and regular cappuccino, and wandered down the path in between the curving coastline and huge park that baby girl loves to frequent, until we reached closer water.

From here on out, I think I’ll let the photos do the talking.

It was so incredibly peaceful. There were people about, yes. But it was still. It was quiet. We stayed at the tip of the pier the longest, looking out at the world beyond.

A nearby fisherman spoke to us, telling us he had waited for this perfect Summer’s Day for weeks. Mid 20s, 6km winds… it was the perfect day for fishing.

And we had stumbled upon it.

We listened to the fishermens banter about bait, took in some more sunshine and pristine water views, I made small talk with a seagull… and off we went, making thanks for such a tremendously glorious sight, and vowing that the Mornington Pier walk would become a part of our wanders and visits, a bit more often.

One of the best things about working during the normal January school holidays is that EVERYTHING is quieter.

The streets are quieter. Little traffic, you just fly on through to your destination.

Work is breezy. All the hard shit is done and you’re there trying to work out what Shakespeare performance you’re going to watch at the Pop-Up theatre with all your mad google searches.

And generally, there are less people.

I get to work about 7, which doesn’t sound too abnormal, but if I told you I get up at 5am, that sounds abnormal. Nonetheless, there are still people around any other time of year, rain, hail or shine, as I make the 7-10 minute walk over to work from where I park (depending on how cold it is).

But today… NO ONE.

It was magic. Any other time, the thought of getting up early for a quiet walk sounds too hard as sleep and bed are my best friends, and yet when I am out on my walk in peace and solitude, I LOVE IT.

I observed the moored boats and soft rippling of the water around them, the fresh air that was devoid of any breeze, and the fact that I was the only one walking at that very moment.

It filled my soul.

The photos do not do it proper justice, but I found clarity and beauty in the scenery around me, and gazed upon the water as the rest of the world, slept…

I really try to enjoy the time I have with my family when we enter a café. For two of us to be there at once, is normal, but when it is the whole 3, our little family unit, all huddled up at a corner table and making waves, with all the bells and whistles, well it’s extra special.

Sure, we’re constantly keeping a certain princess monkey in check.

Sure, her voice is far too loud for cafes.

Sure, we are in and out pretty quickly.

Sure, sometimes the effort feels like more than the gain…

But then I catch sight of a serene view, and all is calm. Calm in my mind, calm in the café, and calm in my family.

Because family life, IS chaotic life. They are one and the same. And I realise in these serene moments, that I wouldn’t change the crazy, for the world.

I always wanna be in, looking out, with them. Whether we are in a café….or whether we are in our World.

It’s nice when your gratitude of the day comes in at an impressively early 7:51 am.

It’s impressive that I was up at that time, even more so that I found reason to be grateful, at that time…

But I know the time, because that’s when I took the below pics:

It was a busy day for the 3 of us: me, Hubbie and baby girl. We had a chock-full day of appointments and places to be and drop-offs, and that was all before my work shift started later this afternoon. But as I got up early, opening blinds and getting things ready to start our day, I spied the above views out of our front window.

The view of the water was more of an exciting novelty when we moved in, I won’t lie. But now, we are used to it. Over time, we have found ourselves sometimes forgetting to look out and enjoy what lies naturally before us.

But just because we forget, doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate.

And this morning, in the cold stillness, the heater ramping up in the background, with the only other sound being my breathing, standing alone looking out the window with Hubbie and baby girl still in their respective beds, well, it was lovely.

A beautiful, peaceful, still and serene moment, enjoying the calm of being at one with myself.

Birthday bash? Big par-tay? Night out with girls? Wait, no – night out with Hubbie?

No, no, no, and NO.

I’ve been looking forward to this weekend, all week, because all I’ve really wanted to do was nothing.

Absolutely,positively,NOTHING.

I have embraced Winter in its entirety and officially started hibernating, you may think. And this is part true. In fact, a post about how great Winter is will follow in due course (true story).

But all I wanted this weekend, was to have no plans. Nothing to do. Nothing to rush and be busy about. I’m actually feeling quite anti-social, in that I’ve been looking forward to nothing else but hanging out and spending some quality time with Hubbie and baby girl. The madness of May, with all of its big celebrations and festivities, and just as many stresses and headaches, although all for a good cause, has just left me tired. Just needing me time. Just needing, ME, to do NOTHING.

Just for a little while. I know that in a week or so, or a few if this cold perseveres, I’ll be up and at it again, and partying just as hard as any 21 year old, as hyped up as any kid that’s just eaten a bag full of smarties, and buzzing just as hard as a beekeeper’s pants. I assume they buzz sometimes, you know.

But tonight, was bliss. It was so much nothing, that it really was the perfect remedy for any previous party sores and shenanigans.

I made a herbal tea when I got home from work, and sat with baby girl on my lap, watching Paw Patrol. She leant her head back against me as we sat watching animated dogs on TV. I breathed.

Later we got takeaway – where along with my Pad Thai I snuck in some cheeky Nutella Puffs (basically deep-fried pastry filled with a slab of yours truly), and along with a delicious glass (or two, or more) of 2014 cab sav, I inhaled. Again.

Later again, baby girl sat on the couch with me after I had taken a hot shower, and now while watching Dora, leant her head on my shoulder. Awww 🙂

A picture perfect night. Just what the doctor ordered. And still, the night ain’t over yet…